Fulham vs Manchester United Report

Scorer: Martinez 78’

A resilient Manchester United performance saw them clinch a narrow 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, courtesy of Lisandro Martínez’s fortuitous late strike.

The result marked United’s eighth consecutive Premier League (PL) win at this ground and handed Ruben Amorim’s side a much-needed boost.

First Half: Evenly Matched but Lacking in Quality

Both teams entered the match with contrasting narratives—Fulham sitting comfortably in 10th, seven points ahead of their visitors, while United looked to close the gap and regain form. Despite Fulham’s superior league position, the opening half was evenly contested.

The home side started brighter, with Alex Iwobi testing André Onana twice in the opening 20 minutes, though neither effort seriously troubled the United goalkeeper.

Fulham looked fluid in their build-up, but clear-cut chances were scarce, and Raúl Jiménez’s wayward effort from a tight angle after being picked out by Antonee Robinson was the best opportunity before the break.

United, meanwhile, struggled to create meaningful openings, with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford failing to impose themselves on the game. The sides went into the interval level, with both sets of fans feeling a goal was there for the taking.

Second Half: A Game Devoid of Sparks

The second period picked up where the first left off, with neither team showing urgency or creativity in the final third.

Remarkably, after 20 minutes of second-half play, neither side had managed a touch inside the opposition box, underlining the lack of attacking impetus.

Fulham’s best opportunity came from substitute Adama Traoré, whose wild effort sailed high and wide, hinting at the game’s inevitable conclusion as a goalless stalemate. Meanwhile, United looked devoid of ideas, failing to trouble Bernd Leno in the Fulham goal.

The Decisive Moment

Just as the game seemed destined to end in a draw, a moment of fortune shifted the tide. In the 78th minute, a poor clearance from Fulham’s defence fell kindly to Lisandro Martínez, who struck a speculative effort from range.

A heavy deflection, aided by Leno’s fingertips and the underside of the crossbar, saw the ball creep into the net, giving United an unexpected lead.

The goal marked United’s first shot on target in the match, but it proved enough to spark jubilation among the travelling fans, who loudly praised Amorim’s leadership.

Late Drama and Final Whistle

Fulham pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages, and they nearly found one through Joachim Andersen, whose header was cleared off the line by substitute Toby Collyer.

Rodrigo Muniz also squandered two opportunities to test Onana, and Amad Diallo’s stoppage-time goal was ruled out for offside, adding to the tension.

Despite Fulham’s late rally, United held firm to secure their fourth win in five matches across all competitions.

What It Means

• Manchester United: The win lifts United to 12th place in the PL standings, four points behind Fulham and moving them closer to the top half. It also eases the pressure on Ruben Amorim, who has faced scrutiny in recent weeks.
• Fulham: The Cottagers remain in 10th but will rue missed opportunities to secure points in a match they largely controlled.

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Fulham v Man Utd, 2024/25 | Premier League